Purpose
The CFK Africa Peacock Fellowship offers UNC students the opportunity to apply their skills and talents to engage in participatory research and development in Kenya. The fellowship is an immersive, global summer experience at our office in Nairobi, Kenya. Fellows work directly with Kenyan staff to strengthen our programs, contribute relevant skills and expertise, implement new strategies, and provide mutual benefit to the organization and fellow.
Fellows will travel to Nairobi, Kenya and spend at least eight weeks in the summer implementing their project or carrying out their work. Pre-departure, students will develop a project plan with CFK Africa staff in the US and Kenya and participate in a pre-departure orientation. Upon return, fellows complete final reports and engage in campus outreach activities to help raise awareness of CFK Africa’s impact. The fellowship provides a stipend of $6,000 for graduate-level students and $4,000 for undergraduate-level students to support the costs of international airfare, in-country transport, and housing.
Eligibility
This fellowship is for UNC undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D. students who can help develop sustainable projects, contribute relevant skills and expertise, or conduct equitable research in collaboration with CFK staff. Students must be returning to UNC the following semester after their summer engagement (i.e., graduating students who matriculate in the Spring of 2023 are not eligible).
Focus Areas
Education & Livelihoods Focus: E&L Fellows will support local leadership, strengthen economic resilience, and/or improve school quality and educational outcomes for students living in informal settlements. Projects can be explored based on the needs of the organization and the interests of the fellow.
Global Public Health Focus: Fellows will support our work in primary health care, adolescent and youth health, nutrition, WASH, and/or maternal and child health. Projects can be explored based on the needs of the organization and the interests of the fellow.
Create Your Own Project: We also welcome Masters and Ph.D. applicants that wish to bring their unique skills and interests to CFK Africa to conduct mutually beneficial research or implement short-term projects in Kenyan informal settlements that relate to our focus areas of female empowerment, sexual and gender-based violence, nutrition, health, education, economic empowerment or livelihoods training, WASH, or maternal and child health.
Fellowships available: 2
Application & Selection Process and Timeline
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- Application Opens: November 13, 2023 – Application is now closed.
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- Application Deadline: 11:59 EST PM on January 5th, 2024
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- Applications are reviewed by past fellows, UNC faculty, and CFK staff and board members.
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- Candidates selected for interviews will be notified by January 29, 2024.
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- Finalists will attend a short interview via Zoom.
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- Selected fellows will be notified by the end February.
Deadline to Submit
All application materials should be uploaded to our application portal no later than 11:59 PM ET Monday, January 5th, 2024.
Online Application Form & Materials Required for Submission
NOTE: The application for the 2024 Peacock Fellowship is now closed.
Online application form and materials required for consideration:
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- Complete the online application form.
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- Upload your CV/Resume and cover letter (optional) explaining why you are applying for the fellowship with CFK Africa, your future goals, and your area(s) of interest in PDF format.
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- Upload one professional or academic reference letter in PDF format.
Please note, our application form does not save your work. We strongly suggest saving your work on a separate document until you are ready to submit your application. For your convenience, you can view a PDF version of the application questions here.
Review Criteria/Evaluation of Applicants
CFK Africa staff from both the US and Kenya, along with past Peacock Fellows, UNC Faculty, and board members, will select fellows. Review criteria includes applicant interest areas, past experiences, and future goals with preference given to those with a demonstrated interest in global health, education, working in informal settlements, East Africa, or one of our other focus areas.
All applicants must possess the ability to work independently, efficiently, and reliably with demonstrated research and cross-cultural communication skills. Although the fellow will further develop their intercultural competency, they must exhibit a high level of cultural sensitivity and self-awareness to work well with others.
Award Requirements
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- Weekly updates to US staff
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- Final report of project findings
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- Two written blogs surrounding the student project activities, lessons, and reflections, one mid-fellowship and one final to be published on CFK’s website
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- Attendance at campus outreach events (seminars, lunch series, info sessions, etc.) about your fellowship experience with CFK Africa
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- Participation in CFK Africa Alumni Network activities
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- Support CFK Africa fundraising efforts on campus and digitally
Reflections From Past Fellows
About the Organization
Headquartered in Kibera, located in Nairobi, Kenya, CFK Africa combines public service with responsible research to transform health, education, and economic outcomes in informal and peri-urban settlements. Co-founded by a UNC student in 2001, CFK Africa is a UNC Affiliate organization and a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit in the U.S. and a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Kenya.
Questions
Email admin@cfkafrica.org or view our informational recording.
